Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is an umbrella term that covers the design, characterization, production and application of structures, devices and systems by controlling shape and size at nanometer scale. Nanotechnology holds the promise of leading to the development of smart nano and micro devices and systems and to radical breakthroughs in vital fields such as healthcare, energy, environment and manufacturing.

Micro- and Nanoelectronics

Micro- and Nanoelectronics deal with semiconductor components and/or highly miniaturized electronic subsystems and their integration in larger products and systems. They include the fabrication, the design, the packaging and test from nano-scale transistors to micro-scale systems integrating multiple functions on a chip.

Industrial Biotechnology

Industrial Biotechnology or white biotechnology is the application of biotechnology for the industrial processing and production of chemicals, materials and fuels. It includes the practice of using microorganisms or components of micro-organisms like enzymes to generate industrially useful products in a more efficient way (e.g. less energy use, or less by-products), or generate substances and chemical building blocks with specific capabilities that conventional petrochemical processes cannot provide. There are many examples of such biobased products already on the market. The most mature applications are related to enzymes used in the food, feed and detergents sectors. More recent applications include the production of biochemicals and biopolymers from agricultural or forest wastes.

Photonics

Photonics is a multidisciplinary domain dealing with light, encompassing its generation, detection and management. Among other things it provides the technological basis for the economic conversion of sunlight to electricity which is important for the production of renewable energy, and a variety of electronic components and equipment such as photodiodes, LEDs and lasers.

Advanced Manufacturing Technology

Advanced Manufacturing Technology encompasses the use of innovative technology to improve products or processes that drive innovation. It covers two types of technologies: process technology that is used to produce any of the other five KETs, and process technology that is based on robotics, automation technology or computer-integrated manufacturing. For the former, such process technology typically relates to production apparatus, equipment and procedures for the manufacture of specific materials and components. For the latter, process technology includes measuring, control and testing devices for machines, machine tools and various areas of automated or IT-based manufacturing technology.

Quantum Technology

The quantum technology market is expected to grow to more than 65 billion USD in the next 20 years; by 2050 the global market is likely to be worth 300 billion USD. The Netherlands has just published its National Agenda for Quantum Technology and presents the Netherlands as a world-leading centre and hub for quantum technology: the Quantum Delta NL, or QΔNL for short. The Netherlands strengths in quantum are: i) cutting edge universities and knowledge institutions research in the fields of qubits, quantum internet, quantum algorithms and post-quantum cryptography; ii) a target country for commercial investors in quantum technologies; iii) offer further development to talent from all parts of the world; iv) being strong in systems engineering and in combining technologies to form operational systems.

Social acceptance and ethical aspects of quantum technology are also very important. The agenda sets out four sector-wide action lines: i) realization of research and innovation breakthroughs; ii) ecosystem development, market creation and infrastructure; iii) human capital; iv) starting social dialogue. The agenda additionally defines three ambitious unifying catalyst programmes (CAT programmes), designed to expedite the social and market introduction of quantum technology by utilizing demonstrator facilities that make the technology tangible and give end users and researchers the opportunity to gain experience with its use. The programmes also have a cohesive function, bringing together the four action lines, the ecosystem actors, and the scientific and user communities. A national help desk will be set up to guide anyone who wants to do something with quantum technology to appropriate parties in the Netherlands.

Artificial Intelligence

The Netherlands has the talent, the world-class research and the longstanding tradition in AI education to be one of the world's top ranked countries in terms of innovation power.

The Dutch ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy is providing the Nederlandse AI Coalitie (Dutch AI Coalition) with an additional 23.5 million euros in funding. The money is intended for exploring and developing applications. At its launch last October, the public-private partnership received 64 million euros 'start-up capital'.

In June 2020, the ministry of Education, Culture and Science announced earmarking 7.5 million euros for AI research programs within the Nationale Wetenschapsagenda (NWA, Dutch National Research Agenda) framework. With additional funding of other ministries, the NWA budget for AI research comes to 15 million euros this year.

The AI Coalitie aspires to invest one billion euros spread out over seven years, and is asking the government to match that amount.

Advanced Materials

Advanced Materials lead both to new reduced cost substitutes to existing materials and to new higher added-value products and services. Advanced Materials offer major improvements in a wide variety of different fields, e.g. in aerospace, transport, building and health care. They facilitate recycling, lowering the carbon footprint and energy demand as well as limiting the need for raw materials that are scarce in Europe.